Torquay

[movingtodevon1]

We have (naively) brought a house not knowing the area well (moving from Wiltshire for work) and after reading several threads on MN I'm starting to panic!
Please tell me there are nicer parts of Watcombe!
The house we are about to complete on is on the top right edge of Watcombe right next to Brunel Woods, the street seems lovely and very quiet/tidy.
I have heard that Torquay isn't the nicest of towns and has more than its share of problems so not going into the move with our eyes completely shut but am really hoping that we haven't made a massive mistake! I need positivity!.... if possible 🤣

Also what are the primary schools like, we have two children, one is about to leave this year for secondary but we have several years to go with the youngest and really need to find a good school that suits her - will be aiming for the Grammars when the time comes.

Welcome to Torquay! We moved last summer from Somerset to St Marychurch and absolutely love it. I had a fairly long thread on here where plenty of people told me that I was basically moving to the ghetto, I'd love to walk them through my very charming neighbourhood 😂
We went with Priory Primary School in St Marychurch, it's tiny, and tucked away behind the churches. The classes are very small and it's a very supportive atmosphere, especially for someone coming in from a different school. It's a Catholic School (which honestly worried me), but it's totally welcoming to everyone, and in fact, has a really multicultural and multifaith intake which feels fresh in somewhere like Devon.
I do not believe that any of the primary schools are anywhere near as bad as whatever you've heard so far. I don't know much about Whatcombe Primary, but you could also look at St Marychurch Primary, which has a new head who seems like she is pulling it up by its bootstraps!
I had a good chat with an admissions officer about grammar feeders. I think, sadly, that the biggest indication of grammar potential is still parental background/income. Most Torquay primaries are around 30-40% pupil premium, the grammars are about 2-3%. You're clearly doing the right sort of thing at home, so I don't think that you need to worry too much.

Also, I think that that side of Watcombe is perfectly lovely, near the beach, the green spaces and I'm very sure that you won't regret it.

I agree with @Hannahthepink. I think the grammar school selection is far more related to parental background and input than anything else.
I remarked above that I don't think the Devon grammars, including Colyton, are all that selective or hard to get into as long as you have fairly educated, motivated type parents. Most of the children are from pretty middle class backgrounds, although less so than the grammars in some other parts of the country. I wouldn't over think it @movingtodevon1. A bright child with support has a good chance of getting in if that is what you choose.

I hope it's Brunel Avenue - ish you are moving to.

Brunel Woods is good for dog walks, and you have a lovely Vet at what was the Animal Health Center, Moor Lane - sadly she just sold out to Medivet but luckily she will still be there and has retained x% of the business ( bit of a contradiction I know )

Your nearest primary school is Watcombe, and of course the local social housing estate all send their children there. I would actually enquire at the school how many children have ever gone to one of the Grammars.

The next nearest Primary Schools will be: St. Marychurch / Priory / Homelands / St. Margarets.
You already have feedback re Priory.

I would have said Abbey School - Independent and the children are almost expected to go to the Grammar Schools ! but it has got soooo small over the years that it would be longer be a choice I would make.

Ilsham has a good reputation, but admission is by distance ! So you have no chance !

Thank you so much for the replies! I thought this thread was buried so am really grateful!
No not Brunel Avenue, higher up than that backing onto the woods though.
I don't even know what part of Watcombe is the council estate? although an internet search says all the houses on our street are privately owned.
Thank you all so much for the school suggestions, it will really help when the time comes, still a few weeks before the move and I don't think we can actually get a school place till we do so its a scary time especially for my year six child who will be sitting their SAT's in May....

I think I saw your post! I am so glad the move has been a success for you and your family! I hope we will be just as happy there!
As far as the priory is concerned do they have mixed aged classes? I like the Sound of the school but worry with mixed ages in a class the Older kids may not get the lessons/education they would in a school with whole year groups only, if you see what I mean?

Yes, it's R/Yr1, Yr2/3, Yr3/4, Yr5/6. I did wonder how it would be for her, but I went to a small school myself so had seen it in action. They split most of the learning into small groups divided by ability for maths and English, then the topics taught by class, there are always extra bits to add on for the older/more able students. We're yet to see the long term effects, but I know that they really know my child because of the small class, and I know that we have always done a bit of extra learning at home so I'm reassured that she's doing well academically.
The population of Torquay is incredibly varied, and you can be on a street with multi-million pound houses then walk for a couple of minutes and find yourself somewhere completely different. Because of this, the schools all seem very mixed, even in the 'good' areas. I would visit a couple if you can and just find one that you like the feel of. I nearly drove myself mad trying^ to work out which was academically best and (to my shame) had the lowest pupil premium. I gave my head a wobble in the end and went with what felt the friendliest and that I could walk to. It's a bit of a Mumsnet classic, but good kids will do well anywhere, especially at Primary.^

To reinforce that, I have neighbours with teenagers that went to The Abbey (independent), but also St Margaret's, and Barton Hill, and every one of them went on to the grammars. It's a tiny sample size, but I found it reassuring that the primary doesn't massively matter, as long as you have an enriching home.

Thank you again!
That is reassuring to know.
It's a constant worry that this move will affect the children's future so I am desperate to get it right.
I will sit down later and have another look at the websites of the schools mentioned so far, My kids are both working exceeding so I really want a caring and nurturing yet academically challenging school that they will be happy at, make good friends yet keep up with what they have currently academically achieved.

I had no idea that moving schools was so stressful, the rule of only applying once you've exchanged and then only having the place held for a few weeks is a nightmare when you're moving to a completely new area! There were some very frantic phone calls with admissions! Do you have an up to date list of schools with places in the correct years yet? We had to strike a number of schools off our list because the year group we needed was full.

I think you are moving to the very, very top of Torquay, so near the top you are almost in a different Council ( Teignbridge ) - so would you consider the neighbouring borough ?
i.e. Shaldon Primary School. I believe it is a Ofsted Outstanding school.

Why ? Torquay varies a lot !, as already said by one other person you can walk along a road with properties worth £000000's and be in a completely different area in minutes.

I go to Torquay every year and love it. I have a timeshare at the Osborne (Hesketh Terrace) in April and we often take walks up towards your area. I really like Teignmouth, so you could make that your reference town.
You’re past the posh area of St.Marychurch in Torquay but can drive over the hill to the motorway and shopping estates, thus skipping the touristy “kiss-me-quick” and hen party area of Torquay.
Good choice, OP.

No, how should I go about getting an up to date list? Would the council admission department give me that information or is it a case of ringing the schools individually to see?

Yes, give Torbay School admissions a ring and have a chat with them about your options.
It's possible for each school to advise you individually, but I ended up in a real mess because one school told me that there would be a space, but that space was then given to someone else on the waiting list, as the council admissions team manage the waiting lists, not the individual schools, so they don't always know what the real situation is as it stands.

Thanks for the reply!
Just looked up Sheldon on the map, I think its a non starter as I would have to drive the opposite direction for secondary school from September, (School busses from Watcombe seem to be sadly lacking!) Also I hate rural
driving in the winter with icy roads etc so that would be a daily nightmare for me!

Thank you Hannahthepink
Will give them a ring!

Let us know how you get on and if you get a shortlist!

Will do, though I will wait for a bit as not due to move till March and As I have already applied for the secondary school for September, I really don't want to confuse them and potentially mess up the secondary school application, I know it sounds unlikely but trust me I am one of those people where if something can go wrong it will!

Ok I have spoken to admissions and the schools with availability in the two years we need are as follows.
Shiphay
Sherwell Valley
Watcombe
Our lady of the angel
Priory
Cockington

And St Marychurch has availability for the youngest (eldest will be off to secondary this year so more important to make sure we make the right long term choice for the youngest)

Does anyone know these Schools and have any knowledge of which would be best? (Aiming for the grammars)

I have obviously looked at the School websites but they make them all sound wonderful 🤷‍♀️

Shiphay - Ofsted requires improvement
Sherwell Valley - well couldn't be better for your school run ! for Girls and Boys Grammars
Watcombe - same as I said prev
Our Lady of The Angels - pretty sure this had a name change due to being so bad at one time - but also good for the school run if going Girls / Boys Grammar
Priory - already had recommendation up above ?
Cockington - I have a feeling it may be a large school ? i.e. 2 classes for each year ? Always seems to have spaces, half the catchment area is ' town ' and not many people actually choose ' town ' to live in / bring up a family in, and as a result the Council has several HMO's / B+B's that it uses for homeless families.
St Marychurch - am sure it was already mentioned up above.

If you pass Watcombe in the car going towards Torquay, Priory and St Marychurch would sort of be the ones you come across first so locationwise I'd go for one of these.

Ask on Spotted Torquay Facebook page.

p.s. and I am ready for the flack - if someone says they live in Watcombe it can be immediately thought Social Housing - whether it is now bought or not is irrelevant ( East and West Pafford Roads and all around )
That's one reason I would avoid Watcombe school.

If someone says they live in St Marychurch or Babbacombe that is not what is thought, as there is no social Housing in St Marychurch that I can think of ...

and only a sprinkle in Babbacombe - block of 6/8 flats at corner of Babbacombe Road Nos 183/195, and at Babbacombe Road / St Anne's Road a large pub was altered and extended into social housing flats for the elderly sort of thing.

Try and narrow it down to 3, then speak to them - asking what % of year 6 have gone to a Grammar in the last say 5 years ? and where else did the children go to i.e. Cuthbert Mayne / Spires / Torquay Academy or out of Torquay to Paignton or Brixham Community Schools or over towards Newton Abbot / Totnes - King Edward.

I only have experience with a couple of those schools, but based on areas and what I've heard of them:
Shiphay - nice area, about as 'posh' as Torquay schools get.
Sherwell Valley - big school, 'posher' catchment.
Cockington - don't know much about this one. I know it had a bad ofsted, but not sure how it's doing now.
Watcombe - don't know anyone who goes here. I do know that they have a great fireworks display every year, which suggests a motivated PTA, which is usually a good sign of engaged parents.
Our Lady of the Angel - tbh I haven't heard great things.
Priory - this is our school. Small, well mixed intake as it's predominantly a faith school.
St Marychurch - have had issues with behaviour, but have a new head and an expanding behavioural unit which seems to be tackling this.
As far as driving goes, Torquay isn't completely terrible for traffic, but it's definitely going to be a pain driving to Sherwell, Shiphay or Cockington. It depends on what you're used to, but it's definitely not a great commute in that direction.
Could you arrange a day to visit a couple?

Just realised that you were planning on driving your eldest to secondary school, in which case, ignore my comments on commute, as you're stuck going in that direction anyway so any of those schools would actually be fine from a driving pov.

I definitely wouldn't ask on Spotted Torquay, most people will simply say their own school, then everyone else will say something along the lines of 'dont cum to Torquay! Is a shit hole. To menny druggies!'

Social housing is, in my opinion, quite a difficult way to judge an area. Many of those council houses were sold off many years ago as family homes, and yes, they might not be owned by particularly affluent families, but they definitely aren't what they were.

Ha ha Hannah, there was a post on there this week saying just that to some poor unsuspecting person moving to the area!

My boys went to the Spires and as they both have some learning differences that was a mixed bag. They were great for autism but not so great for dyslexia but it was a while ago.

TA has a new building and has significantly improved.

The Cuthbert Maine Catholic school has resolved the religious issue of centuries and is a mixed Roman Catholic and Protestant and friends whose children go there rate it well.

Watcombe primary has had investment and although lots of disadvantaged children go there apparently it offers a lot of extra curriculum and cultural opportunities. Ilsham would be considered highly desirable though.

My DD used to teach at Priory. It's squeezed in with no green space so it wouldn't be top of my list. There is a wide variety of primary schools.

The town center has the same issues as all towns, particularly sea side ones but there is still good shops and the harbour is great in the summer. A family member is part of a team looking at solutions with the levelling up funds around the area and there is investment.

Personally I think it is as good as anywhere and better than many with some really lovely things to do. Walking, outdoor sports, the sea, so many beaches, the moors. Exeter is lovely to visit (Topsham is a bit like a theme park for old fashioned independent shops etc).

Clark's village is about 90 minutes away but worth going.

People holiday in Torquay so they must think it's ok. I still feel like I'm on holiday every summer and I've been local for over a decade.